ຂ້ອຍ
khǭi[kʰɔːj˧˩]
The Lao word for 'I' can be expressed as ຂ້ອຍ (khǭi), ຜູ້ຂ້າ or ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ.
Meaning: personal pronoun (pron)
Ways to say it
| Lao | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ຂ້ອຍ | khǭi | [kʰɔːj˧˩] (narrow) [kʰɔːj˥˥˨] (narrow) |
| ຜູ້ຂ້າ | phū khā | [pʰuː˧˩.kʰaː˧˩] (narrow) [pʰuː˥˥˨.kʰaː˥˥˨] (narrow) |
| ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ | khā pha chao | [kʰaː˧˩.pʰa(ʔ˧).t͡ɕaw˥˨] (narrow) [kʰaː˥˥˨.pʰa(ʔ˧˨).t͡ɕaw˧˦] (narrow) |
In Lao, the choice of the word for 'I' is heavily dependent on the social hierarchy and the relationship between the speaker and the listener.
Which one should you use?
ຂ້ອຍ is the standard, neutral and most common way to say 'I' in everyday conversation. In contrast, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ is reserved for formal situations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ຂ້ອຍ is used informally to indicate familiarity and comfort, and it also serves as a neutral standard for everyday use. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ is a formal version used in official contexts, speeches or when addressing an audience or a superior. ຜູ້ຂ້າ is a highly formal, almost archaic or literary form of 'I' used in specific formal settings or historical contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
khǭi
Did you know?
- The formal pronoun ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ is a shortened version of ຂ້າພຣະພຸດທະເຈົ້າ, which refers to the Buddha.
- Depending on the relationship, a Lao speaker might use their own name or a kinship term like 'younger sibling' instead of any of the words for 'I'.
- Lao speakers often omit the word for 'I' entirely if the context makes it clear who is speaking.
Examples in context
- ຂ້ອຍຢາກກິນI want to eat.This sentence shows how to use ຂ້ອຍ to express desire.Tatoeba #8670347 by pastelite, translation #1356939 by sacredceltic
- ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ.I love you.This sentence demonstrates the use of ຂ້ອຍ in an expression of affection.Tatoeba #8975706 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #1434 by awael58
- ຂ້ອຍຮັກແອບເປີ້ນI love apples.This sentence shows how to use ຂ້ອຍ to express a preference for a specific food.Tatoeba #8670349 by pastelite, translation #452809 by CM
- 33 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their plans for the day.
- Aມື້ນີ້ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ວ່າງ.mu nee khoy bo vang.I am not free today.
- Bເຈົ້າຈະໄປໃສ?chao cha pai sai?Where are you going?
- Aຂ້ອຍຕ້ອງໄປຕະຫຼາດ.khoy tong pai ta laat.I have to go to the market.
- Bໂອເຄ, ເຈີກັນມື້ອື່ນ.ok, cher kan mu eun.Okay, see you tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I” translations and entries ຂ້ອຍ, ຜູ້ຂ້າ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ຂ້ອຍ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ, ຜູ້ຂ້າ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
